By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Could this be the dream season for the Palestine-Wheatley Patriots.?
After a school record 11-2 season last year, and a postseason trip all the way to the Class AA quarterfinals, should P-W football fans really be surprised that the Patriots have been picked by several prep football web services to win the renovated 6AA Conference?
Not at all.
Returning one of the biggest senior classes in recent memory, the Patriots not only get the nod to win the 6AA -- ahead of traditional powerhouse teams Barton and Harding Academy -- the Patriots are also sitting at No. 4 in the overall Class AA preseason poll.
The Patriots lost just three seniors from last year's team -- Dustin Taylor, Elisha Duncan and Jonathan Wheeler.
P-W returns all-everything quarterback Fred Leak, running back Rashun Barnes, fullbacks Brad Barton and Antonio Leak and almost the entire offensive and defensive lines anchored by senior derrick Cooper, who may very well be the best lineman in the conference; Rico Whitaker and Chris Jones to name a few.
Playing from the 3AA for the last four seasons, the Patriots return to the 6AA this season for the first time since the 1999 season.
But, this is a revamped 6AA Conference with Harding Academy, Hughes, Augusta and Marvell joining the Patriots, Barton, Des Arc, Clarendon and Elaine.
With a high-powered offense, eight returning starters, who log time on both sides of the football and the big senior class, the Patriots certainly appear to be equipped to handle the new look 6AA's competition.
Naturally, while Harding and Barton cannot be overlooked as potential conference contenders, the Hughes Blue Devils, also coming off a highly successful 2003 season and Des Arc have to be considered legitimate threats within the league.
Harding returns experience and lots of talent while Frank McClellan always finds a way for his Barton Bears to win.
Des Arc begins 2004 with plenty of experience and the Blue Devils are postseason experienced as well.
If there is a team to keep an eye on -- a sleeper if you will in the 6AA -- it could be Marvell.
While the Mustangs won't be in the postseason mix, Marvell has the potential to be AA's most improved squad.
The Patriots will open their season on Sept. 3, when they host Carlisle, the preseason pick to finish second in the 4AA this time around.
Patriot head coach Terry Farmer is entering his fifth season at P-W and an overall 27-19 record.
He has taken the Patriots to postseason each year since taking over the program, but P-W did not get their first playoff victory until last season when the Pats defeated Hazen in the first round and then knocked off Pea Ridge.
CAMDEN -- Despite making a seventh-inning comeback, the Jonesboro Coca-Cola AA baseball team fell 7-6 to Little Rock Post One in the winners' bracket final of the AA American Legion state tournament Monday night.
Down 6-4 in the top of the seventh, Jonesboro used a walk and two infield errors to load the bases. With two out, Ryan Blackburn hit a line-drive shot off the shortstop's glove to tie the game at 6-6. But Little Rock prevailed when, with the bases loaded, the number three hitter cracked a hard shot down the third-base line to give Little Rock a 7-6 win.
Murray Watts picked up three walks and scored two runs. Cody Pace hit an RBI triple and scored a run.
Coca-Cola will play against the winner of Monday's Magnolia-Greenwood game today at 5 p.m. The winner meets Little Rock Post One in the championship round at 8. If Little Rock loses, the "if necessary" game is set for Wednesday night at 7.
The 2004-05 Forrest City Mustang Cheerleaders recently completed their summer camp session, conducted by Universal Cheerleader's Association instructor Kelly Williams. The squad received superior ratings for cheers and dances learned during the camp. Six of the nine team members were chosen All-Star Cheerleaders. They were Risondra Deans, Nivia Hamilton, Mary Dudley Hodges, Kandice Ivory, Marsha James and Amber Williams. The squad is excited and prepared for the hard work of the upcoming athletic season at Forrest City.